When you think about Jesus, what image pops into your mind? Is it the baby in the manager surrounded by barn animals, the great teacher sitting on a hill with thousands of people hanging on every word, the compassionate healer touching lepers and the disabled restoring them physically, emotionally and spiritually, or perhaps the Suffering Servant, beaten and bloodied and hanging from the cross at Calvary? One image or facet of Jesus I don’t think about often, nor do I believe is talked about enough in the Church is described in today’s text; the Glorious Coming King who will judge every person and assign them their eternal reward or punishment.
Matthew 25:31-46
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ Read Ezekiel 34:11-24 and John 10:1-18 and compare/contrast with Matthew 25:31-46.
+ Son of Man was the “title” Jesus most used for Himself. Why and what does it mean to you? Read Daniel 7, focusing on verses 13-14.
+ Is Jesus teaching salvation/damnation based on works or activities in this passage? If not, then what is the point He is trying to make? Why do you think Jesus used the particular examples of a people being hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick and in prison?
+ Who is “one of the least of these my brothers” found in verses 40 and 45? (The interpretation of this is varied among Biblical scholars. For one view, read Matthew 10:40-42, 11:25-27 and 12:46-50).
+ How do you feel about the idea of God executing eternal punishment? How do you explain this Biblical concept to non-believers?
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ A footnote from the Reformation Study Bible on the topic of Hell:
Hell, then, is an eternity before the righteous, ever burning wrath of God, a suffering torment from which there is no escape and no relief. Understanding this is crucial to our drive to appreciate the work of Christ and to preach His gospel.
Heavenly Father, You are a righteous and just judge. Every person who has ever lived deserves hell as their final destination. Yet, in your magnanimous mercy, You have authored a way of salvation for those who place their trust in You. Forgive us for taking this gift for granted and may the reality of hell provoke us to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone we meet. Amen
From an article entitled “God is Unchangeable” by Dr. David Strain:
“What is the anchor of our confidence for salvation? Why are we not consumed? It’s not that we are wise enough, strong enough, or good enough to escape the wrath to come. It is that God is unchanging. He will not revoke His covenant commitment to save a people for Himself by the blood of His Son. Having sent Him to the cross for us, He will not now dismiss His Son’s perfect work on our behalf on a whim. God is not fickle. He who ordained our redemption and provided for our redemption secures and guarantees our redemption. He does not change.
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?